Twig's Beverage Bottling Line Conveyor Upgrades
... boosts production with help from Multi-Conveyor!
Multi-Conveyor worked hand-in-hand with a renowned, family-owned bottling beverage manufacturer in Shawano, WI, to facilitate a new filling line upgrade that accommodates a myriad of bottle composition and container sizes. The modernization implements three powered plastic table top chain conveyors and one rotary accumulation table to complete the reconfigured filling line.
With Multi-Conveyor’s line layout assistance, Twig’s Beverage, Inc. now has the capacity to fill, crown and label plastic soda and water bottles, returnable and non-returnable glass soda bottles and gallon plastic containers. Each unique beverage is produced as production calls, using manual change-over.
Ben Hartwig, Vice President Twig’s Beverage, explains: “So the old line was our returnable* line that we’ve had since the 1950’s/1960’s. We’ve had a lot of issues with that one, always breaking down and stuff and it was hard to find parts. So now with this new line, we were able to upgrade and we’ve had no issues so far. We’re able to get out twice as much (production) as we usually typically do in a day and it’s been working very smoothly for us.”
In an off-camera interview, we asked Dan Hartwig, President, the benefits received by partnering with Multi-Conveyor. His response: “We are using bottle transfers, turntables, a track system and chain drives. In the past we used 1960 equipment. After discussing our vision with Multi-Conveyor, they were able to come in and layout how it would work best. With the upgrades we increased production considerably. The bottles transfer much more smoothly, thus less down time and more production.”
In this video, we focus on glass soda bottles that are manually unloaded, placed in single lane conveyance through a rotary bottle Rinser. From there the bottles parallel transfer onto a 90° side-flexing plastic chain curve section that feeds the bottle filler.
The filled, crowned bottles discharge onto a secondary 90° center line radius side flexing curve through another seamlessly smooth parallel transfer that feeds a labeler. Note: At this point, plastic bottles would be labeled in motion (not shown).
The glass bottles continue on to a new rotary accumulation table where an operator manually hand packs the beverage into finished cases, completing the 1960’s semi-automatic line equipment upgrade into the 21st century.
Ben continues: “Multi-Conveyor came in and actually helped us layout the design for the bottling system. They were able to help us fit it to the room, even if it didn’t work out, they came back in and made sure it (the line layout) worked for us.”
Multi-Conveyor engineers designed the line with built-in flexibility to specifically accommodate Twig’s future expansion to include gallon filling when plastic and glass bottles are not produced.
Other features of this new line include stainless steel top covers from rinser discharge to filler infeed for contamination prevention; discharge end flush mount transitions; and a stainless steel table at infeed, to name a few.
Why Multi-Conveyor? We’ll let Ben tell you. “The advantage of working with Multi-Conveyor is they’re very easy to work with. The communication’s always very clear. As soon as we need to talk to them about anything, they’re there for us. Very friendly, just great customer service. We’ve needed certain things for our line and they were able to come through for it in the end.”
How can Multi-Conveyor help with your next conveyor configuration? Call us at 1-800-236-7960. We look forward to working with you soon. Remember, Multi-Conveyor … your best, conveyed better.
We gratefully thank the entire team at Twig's Beverage, Inc., for their assistance in the making of this video production, including but not limited to: Dan & Diane Hartwig; sons Lucas, Jacob & Ben; production and office staff. We appreciate your time Chris Fietzer (production manager); Tayten Koelbl, Ethan Prey and Tanner Larsen for your cameo appearances during the making of this video.
*Returnable lines use a specially designed glass with an etched logo that can withstand the re-washing and refilling process vs. non-returnables (glass) that are a cheaper glass option, similar to that of beer bottles that customers do not have return, and therefore can be purchased and enjoyed all over the country. Simply put the bottle into the recycling and eventually it will be made into brand new glass. Learn more …